Instruction Manual

0458-787-8621-A
26
English 7 Emergency Situations
7.1 Using the Chain Saw in Emergency Situations
WARNING
￭ The use of this saw for rescue operations, even by trained
personel, can be extremely hazardous and may result in
severe or fatal personal injury. The risk of injury from
reactive forces, fire or explosion, electrocution, damaged
chain and other causes when employing a chainsaw for
these purposes is substantially increased.
￭ Cutting any materials other than wood will decrease the
service life of the chain and may cause irreversible
damage to it, requiring replacement before work with the
saw can be continued.
￭ Unlike a conventional chain saw, however, this Rescue
Saw may also be used in an emergency situation to cut
through materials other than wood – but only if it is
equipped with the carbide-tipped saw chain specially
authorized by STIHL for this purpose. Generally, the
specially designed and hardened cutters of such a saw
chain can penetrate most wooden doors (even if nails are
encountered), thin metal sheets, glass (e.g., train
windows), insulating materials, as well as frame, stucco
and even some lightweight masonry walls.
￭ When making a forced entry through a wall, be aware of
the possibility of encountering electrical wiring and pipes.
Cutting into such objects will increase the risk of serious
or fatal injury from electrocution, fire and/or explosion. To
the extent possible, make sure no live electrical wires or
pipes carrying flammable or toxic substances are in or on
the other side of the wall you intend to cut. Follow all
applicable rules and guidelines in this regard.
￭ The extraordinary cutting capabilities of the STIHL
carbide-tipped rescue saw chain may result in higher
vibration levels. Consequently, a STIHL Rescue Saw
equipped with rescue saw chain should be limited to
occasional use only, i.e. short emergency and rescue
cutting operations (max. 2 tank fillings daily). If daylong
use for woodcutting is anticipated, such as clearing
windfalls, natural disasters, etc., replace the carbide-
tipped rescue saw chain with a normal woodcutting saw
chain as listed in this manual, which reduces vibrations to
a level that allows for such extended chain saw operation.
Roof-Venting
Fire and rescue departments in North America frequently
engage in the practice of "roof-venting" structures involved
in fires to help evacuate penned-up heat and smoke by
sawing vent openings into the top layer of a building. Roof-
venting usually means physically placing one or more fire
fighters on or near the roof of a structure, that may still be
burning and forcing openings either manually or with a chain
saw. There are several ways to make such an opening, but
many, if not most, run counter to standard safe and sound
operating principles for handheld power equipment,
primarily due to insecure footing.
Depth Limiter
The depth limiter is intended for the use only on the STIHL
MS 462 C-M R Rescue Saw for fire and rescue operations
by specially trained personnel. The cutting depth or plunge
depth of the cutting attachment can be set by means of a
sliding metal sleeve that is movable within a preset range
along a specially prepared guide bar. Its sole purpose is to
limit the depth of entry into material, which may be useful to
fire and rescue personnel when cutting into walls, etc. It is
not designed to protect the operator from saw chain contact.
The additional weight of the depth limiter will make the chain
saw more nose-heavy.For mounting instructions,@ 11.4.1.
8.1 Bucking
Bucking is cutting a log into sections.
7 Emergency Situations
8 Proper Techniques for Basic Bucking,
Limbing, Pruning and Felling